58 years ago today on Boxing Day (December 26, 1967), The Beatles movie "Magical Mystery Tour" ran for about an hour and was broadcast in England. I have watched this movie many times, mostly at the many Beatles conventions that I attended in New York City as a teenager in the 1970s, and into the 1980s, when the convention moved to New Jersey.
For my high school prom in June 1979, I dressed like The Beatles from this movie, well, as close as I could get. I wanted to wear tails like The Beatles and a black carnation like Paul McCartney, but my mom said no. Also, as a teenager in the 1970s, I often wore my T-shirt with the photo in the bottom right photo from the movie on the front of the shirt. Back then, photos were transferred onto thin sheets of rubber and then glued onto T-shirts.
While the colorfully striking movie was basically a flop because it was broadcast on one of the BBC channels in black and white, the double-EP (extended play) vinyl records and accompanying booklet of photos sold exceptionally well. (Part of the cover can be seen in the upper right of this composite photo.) It was later turned into a vinyl album with the six songs from the movie on Side One and five songs that were released as singles on Side Two. The German album, which I used to have on vinyl, was released in true stereo, while the U.S. album, which I also had on vinyl, was released in fake stereo. I have the U.S. release on CD. I also have the German release on a bootleg CD, which also contains the mono version of The Beatles 1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." I also have the "Magical Mystery Tour" movie on DVD and on VHS videotape.
Long ago, I met Neil Innes (R.I.P.) at a Beatles convention and got his autograph. He appeared in the movie as a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. He also played "Ron Nasty," the John Lennon-type character in the 1978 parody TV movie "All You Need Is Cash," starring The Rutles. As a 17-year-old, I watched the initial broadcast on TV in 1978. I also have the movie on DVD.
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